Roller mill



March 23, 1965 J. E. HOFFMAN, JR 3,174,696

ROLLER MILL Filed ma 11, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

J. E.HOFFMAN,JR.

ax/4M ATTORNEY March 23, 1965 J. E. HOFFMAN, JR 3, 74,6 6

' ROLLER MILL Filed May 11, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3O 55 5o 2 H "7 H6 FIG.3

35 1k rg 2| l9 INVENTOR.

7 r! J.E.HOFFMAN,JR.

ATTORNEY March 23, 1965 J. E. HOFFMAN, JR ROLLER MILL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 11, 1962 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. J. E.HOFFMAN ,JR.

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March 23, 1965 J. E. HOFFMAN, JR 3,174,595

ROLLER MILL Filed May 11. 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Luz. HOFFMAN ,JR.

un/Z ATTORNEY March 23, 1965 J. E. HOFFMAN, JR

ROLLER MILL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 11, 1962 INVENTOR. F G. 7 J. E.HOFFMAN,JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,174,696 ROLLER MILL John E. Holfman, .lln, Moline, lllL, assignor to Deere 3; Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 11, 1962, Ser. No. 194,045 4 (Ilairns. (Cl. 241-224) This invention relates to a material reducing device of the roller mill variety and more particularly to the structure associated with the mill for adjusting the rate of feed as well as the gap between the individual rolls.

It is necessary in the conventional type of roller mill to provide some type of adjustment which increases or decreases the space between the rolls so that the coarseness of the ground material may be varied. This, of course, is for the purpose of adjusting the material reducing device so that various and different types of material may be ground. In feeding livestock, for example, it is often desirable to shift from the grinding and feeding of corn to one of the smaller grains. The characteristics as well as the size of the grains may therefore vary and consequently adjustment for each type of grain or feed must be made as the occasion arises.

It is therefore the primary object of the invention to provide a relatively simple method of adjusting the gap between the rolls. Specifically it is proposed to provide a support for the journals carrying opposite ends of at least one of the rolls which may be rocked or rotated in the main supporting frame about an axis eccentric to the roll itself. Consequently, upon rocking or rotating the support, the one roll will be moved toward or away from the opposite roll. Also, the eccentric mounting arrangements will be rotated or rocked from a single shaft which extends the length of the mill and is connected to the eccentric mountings for opposite ends of the roll in a manner whereby rotation of the shaft will cause the simultaneous rocking or rotation of the journal supports.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple device for adjusting the rate of feed of material to the grinding gap between the rolls.

As a further object of the invention, it is proposed to provide a grille structure above the material feeding opening which prevents foreign and large objects from passing into the grinding area.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following description and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from the rear right side of the roller mill.

FIG. 2 is a partial view taken from the front of the roller mill with the front upright panel of the housing removed.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with part of the drive mechanism being removed.

FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the roller mill with the housing being removed.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a plan view looking down into the grille structure of the roller mill.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 6.

The roller mill is composed of a main frame base including upper longitudinally extending angle iron members 11, 12 interconnected by transverse braces as at 13, and lower longitudinally extending angle iron members ddldfidb Patented Mar. 23, 1965 14, 15 interconnected by a lower transverse plate or brace 16. The individual portions of the base frame are rigidly joined by being welded or otherwise fixed. The vertical flanges of the angle iron members ll, 14 are interconnccted by side braces 17, and the vertical flanges of the angle irons 12, 15 are interconnected by a vertically disposed base plate 18. The plates l7, l8 carry transversely projecting struts or brackets 19, 26 having rigidly supported thereon short stub axles 21, 22. Transport Wheels 23, 24 are carried on the axles 21, 22 respectively. The base frame also has projecting forwardly therefrom a draft structure 25 which may be connected to the drawbar of a tractor for purposes of transporting the roller mill. The basic frame also includes front and rear upright end structures 34), 31, the latter being cast and having large or boss sections projecting from their respective faces and serving as supports for the various rolls and shafts extending longitudinally between the end frames 30, 31.

Extending longitudinally and disposed between the ends 39, 31 is a pair of crushing or grinding rolls 32, 33. The rolls 32, 33 are generally hollow drums with outer corrugated or roughened surfaces utilized for grinding material passing between the rolls. The rolls 32, 33 have central supporting shafts 34, 35 respectively having front ends 34 35f and rear ends 3dr, 351' extending through the front and rear end walls 30, 31. Suitable hearings or journals 36, 37 and 38, 39 are provided on the shafts 34, 35 respectively for purposes of journaling the shafts in the respective end walls 39, 31. The Walls 30, 31 have enlarged or boss sections supporting the respective bearings. The bearings 36, 37 for the left-hand roll 32 are held in the respective Walls 30, 31 by means of lock rings 49, 41. The bearings or journals 38, 39 for the right-hand roll 33 have journal supports 42, 43 fitting into annular openings of the respective walls 30, 31 and are held therein by means of lock rings 44, 4'5. The journal supports 42, 43 have internal annular surfaces 46, 47 receiving the respective bearings 38, 39. The supports 42, 43 also have annular exterior surfaces 48, 49 eccentric to the respective internal surfaces 46, 4'7. The journal supports 42, 43 are each provided with rotary drive means in the form of sprocket teeth 50, 51 oilset forwardly and rearwardly of the respective front and rear walls 30, 31.

Positioned above the roll 33 and extending longitudinally and through the respective end Walls, 30, 31 is a shaft 52. As is clearly evident in FIG. 6, rotary drive means are provided on outer ends of the shaft 52 in the form of sprockets 53, 54 above the respective sprocket teeth 50, 51. Chains 55, 56 extend from the sprocket 53 to the sprocket teeth 50 and from the sprocket 54 to the sprocket teeth 51. The extreme rear end of the shaft 52 has a hand adjusting wheel 57 thereon for adjusting the position of the shaft 52. The wheel 57 is connected to the shaft 52 by means of a shear pin 58 extending through its hub 58 and into the shaft 52.

Rotation of the hand wheel 57 will cause the sprockets 53, 54 to simultaneously adjust the bearing support 42, 43 so that the axis of the roll 33 may be moved toward or away from the opposite roll 32. Consequently the gap between the two rolls 32, 33 may be manually adjusted by simple rotation of the wheel 57. This, of course, makes the machine versatile in that heavier or smaller grains may be moved through the unit. The rear face of the journal support 43 has a marking indicator 60 projecting therefrom and through an arcuate shaped slot 61 in the housing structure that surrounds the entire mate rial reducing unit. Suitable indicia or markings 62 are provided on the face of the housing llll so that the indicator pin 66 will record the gap between the two rolls 32, as.

A suitable locking device is provided for the wheel 57 and include a bracket 64 projecting rearwardly from the face of the end frame 31 and an adjustable clamping plate 65 which may bear against one side of the hand is to maintain the two rolls in a desired fixed relation to one another. However, should a larger and substantially unbreakable foreign object pass between the rolls, the shear pin 58 will fail and permit the supports 42, 43 to rotate to the maximum gap. Consequently the pin 58 operates as an overload release for the rolls 32, 33.

Disposed beneath the rolls is hopper structure including converging laterally disposed side panels 70, 71 joined by an arcuate shape lower apex portion 72. The portion 72 supports an auger 73 extending the length of the unit. The rear end of the auger 73 has a pair of diametrically opposite paddles 74, 75 operating to move material upwardly to a vertically disposed auger 76. A suitable housing 77 is provided adjacent the rear end of the auger 73 and the lower end of the auger 76 and provides an inclined passage 78 for the ground material to move both upwardly and rearwardly. The two angers 73, 76 have their respective shafts 79, 80 drivingly connected by the bevel gear transmission as indicated in dotted representation in gear housing 81. The forward end of the shaft 79 is suitably journaled on a vertical wall 82 extending downwardly from the angle iron member 13.

Positioned above the rolls 32, 33 is a hopper structure composed of longitudinally extending inclined side panels 85, 86 converging at their lower portions. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the lower edge of the side panel 86 is spaced from the upper face of the side panel 85 to provide a material feed opening above the gap between the rolls 32, 33. An adjustable extension panel 87 underlies the side panel 86 and is carried thereon by tracks 83, 84 on ends of the panel 86. A pair of angle iron racks 88, 89 are fixed to the underside of the extension 87. Each rack has a laterally disposed flange with a row of openings 90 for receiving the teeth on a pair of respective sprocket wheels, one of which is shown at 91. The wheel for the rack 89, while not shown, is clearly obvious from the location of the rack 89. The sprocketwheels are mounted on a common shaft 92 extending through and supported on the respective end frames 30, 31. On the extreme rear end of the shaft 92 is provided a crank or lever 93 manually operated to rotate the respective wheels in order to adjust the racks 88, 89 and the extension panel 87 toward or away from the face of the side panel 85. In this manner the opening permitting material to flow into the area of grinding may be controlled externally of the unit. The upper hopper structure is closed at its ends by means of an inclined panel 103 at the front and an upright panel 104 at the rear. V

A grille structure is provided above the feed opening and includes a plurality of bars 95 extending across the opening of the upper hopper. The bars are interconnected at opposite ends by means of longitudinally extending rods 96, 97. The rod 96 is hingedy mounted onthe hopper side panel 85 by means of three hinges 538. A latch 99 is provided on the opposite side and on the side panel 86 for purpose of holding the grille in place relative to the hopper. As may be seen from viewing FIGS. 2 and 5, the transverse rods 95 are arched over the hopper and are formed in a partial circular shape. The ends of the rods therefore extend from their ends substantially normal to the respective walls 85, 86.

Other features of the roller mill such as the housing 100, the elevator housing 101, and the horizontal elevator extension indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 102 are not considered of particular importance relative to the present disclosure and are shown primarily for orientation purposes.

The power for driving the unit is initially received from the power take-off shaft of a tractor, not shown, and is driven through a main power shaft, indicated by its shielding 114. The shaft, covered by the shield 114, is directly connected to the roll shaft 34 through suitable articulate connections, not shown. Also supported on the shaft 34 is a double pulley 105. A double pulley 186 is supported on the lower auger shaft 79 and a similar double pulley 107 is supported on the roll drive shaft 35. A pair of V-belts, 1118, 109, extending between the pulleys 11 5, 1G6, 167, operate to drive the shafts 35, 79. A double reversing pulley 110 is provided on the end frame 30 and a double idler pulley 111 is provided on the wall 82. The reversing pulley 110 is supported on a bell crank arrangement 112 being spring loaded at 113 to provide generally constant tension in the V-belts 108, 109. Also supported on the shaft 34 is a sprocket 115 carrying a chain 116, the latter driving an agitator drive sprocket 117 keyed to an agitator shaft 118. The shaft 118 extends the length of the fulcrum and carries thereon suitable radial structure as at 119 which tends to break up or maintain a relatively free flow of the material as it moves through the area of the opening between the lower edge of the extension 97 and the side panel 85.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should be recognized that other forms and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, while the present disclosure is shown in concise and detailed manner for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, it is not intended to limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad concept set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A roller mill comprising a main frame having longitudinally spaced ends; a pair of material reducing rolls supported on the frame ends and disposed in side by side relation; a hopper structure supported on the frame above the rolls including a pair of converging side panels having lower portions thereof spaced apart to define a longitudinal material passage above the gap of the rolls; an adjustable plate associated with the hopper structure and adapted to be adjusted across the passage for varying the feed of material through the passage; and a longitudinal arch-shaped grille having opposite longitudinal edges with one longitudinal edge hingedly mounted on one of the hopper side panels and extending in ascendancy and descendancy respectively across the hopper to the opposite longitudinal edge abutting the face of the opposite side panel.

2. In a roller mill having a main frame including longitudinally spaced ends, a pair of material reducing rotors disposed in side by side relation between the frame ends with rotor shafts extending adjacent the respective ends, the combination therewith of journals on the ends for rotatablysupporting the rotor shafts; journal supports rotatably supported on the ends for rotation about an axis eccentric to the axis of the rotor; sprockets rigid with the supports adjacent the respective ends; a shaft extending between and supported on the frame ends; a pair of sprockets on the shaft adjacent the ends; a pair of chains extending between the sprockets on the shaft and journal supports respectively whereby opposite ends of the rotor will be adjusted in unison in response to movement of the shaft; and means for adjustably rotating the shaft.

3. A supporting structure for a material reducing rotor having a rotor shaft, comprising: a journal for the shaft; a main support having an enlarged annular opening through which the shaft may extend; a journal for the shaft; a journal support having an outer annular surface eccentric to the rotor shaft snugly received in the annular opening of the main support, the journal support further having a rotary drive portion offset to one side of the main support; a rotary drive member on the main support spaced from the drive portion; a continuous flexible element extending between the drive member and drive portion; and means effecting rotation of the drive member for 5 adjusting the journal support anguiarly in said annular opening.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 further characterized by overload lock means between the supporting structure and drive member adapted to prevent rotation of the member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Nikolai 241-225 XR Harris 241-225 XR Rechtin et a1 241230 XR Thahnann 24132 Sloane 241222 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

2/86 Van Celder 241-224 XR 10 I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROLLER MILL COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME HAVING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED ENDS; A PAIR OF MATERIAL REDUCING ROLLS SUPPORTED ON THE FRAME ENDS AND DISPOSED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATIION; A HOPPER STRUCTURE SUPPORTED ON THE FRAME ABOVE THE ROLLS INCLUDING A PAIR OF CONVERGING SIDE PANELS HAVING LOWER PORTIONS THEREOF SPACED APART TO DEFINE A LONGITUDINAL MATERIAL PASSAGE ABOVE THE GAP OF THE ROLLS; AN ADJUSTABLE PLATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOPPER STRUCTURE AND ADAPTED TO BE ADJUSTED ACROSS THE PASSAGE FOR VARYING THE FEED OF MATERIAL THE PASSAGE; AND A LONGITUDINAL ARCH-SHAPED GRILLE HAVING OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EDGES WITH ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF THE 